Adam Gilchrist backs AB de Villiers to beat his fastest ODI century at Manuka Oval

Exit Cyclone Gayle, enter AB de Villiers. Australian legend Adam Gilchrist thinks the South African captain is the world's most valuable cricketer and can break his own record for the fastest one-day international century when he walks on to Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr hopes the arrival of the man who took just 31 balls to smash an ODI hundred last month will bolster sales for Canberra's third and final Cricket World Cup match against Ireland.

AB de Villiers of South Africa celebrates smashing the fastest ever one-day century off just 31 balls. He gets his chance at Manuka Oval next Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images

Now he's back on cricket's biggest stage.

Gilchrist, one of the most aggressive batsmen the game has seen, believes de Villiers could give his fastest century a shake at Manuka.

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Gilchrist expects the pitch, traditionally a batsman's paradise, to provide the perfect platform to launch an assault.

"You'd expect it's a pretty good batting wicket, traditionally it's always been a beauty," he said.

"I can remember from my time coming down and playing games there it was always a lovely wicket.

"Who knows, just when you think something can't be improved on, the players in this day and age are taking it to new levels, so anything's possible."

De Villiers is yet to hit his straps this World Cup, much like Gayle when he arrived in Canberra.

But Gayle thrilled the fans at Manuka with the highest ever World Cup innings of 215 off just 147 balls against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

A week later, de Villiers could do the same.

The 31-year-old is averaging more than 50 in Tests and ODIs.

"He's the world's most valuable cricketer, he's the best player in all three formats of the game," Gilchrist said.

"He's the most damaging cricketer in all formats as a batsman, but not only that he captains, he wicketkeeps to as good a standard as any in the world and fields quite possibly better than anyone in the world.

"Then he has a trundle in a one-dayer and picks up a couple of wickets."

Barr was hoping all three World Cup games in Canberra would attract crowds of more than 10,000.

While the first game between Bangladesh and Afghanistan was a sellout of 10,972, just 5544 turned up to see Gayle's spectacular innings.

The Chief Minister was hoping de Villiers would drag fans through the gate to watch him take on a surprisingly competitive Ireland.

"He's an exceptional talent and it would be great to see him bat at Manuka as part of the Cricket World Cup," Barr said.

"That's another dimension to South Africa's appearance in the tournament.

"With the changed playing surface, Manuka's just a tad smaller now than the MCG so it's well within [his] capability to regularly clear the fence."

Barr said research had indicated there had been strong community support for Canberra hosting a super summer of cricket, in which Australia played just their second ODI at Manuka, the three World Cup games and the Big Bash League final.